"Bang~!"
"Xinfeng County is only a hundred miles away from Chang'an City, but on the third day after the locust plague occurred, grain merchants were driving up grain prices. The court's repeated orders were ignored by some people! Huh! You really are my butcher's knife. Don’t you dare to chop off their heads?”
In the Ganlu Hall, after Li Er read the message, he patted the dragon case and said coldly with a livid face.
Seeing Li Er's anger, the maids and chamberlains in the main hall became silent and did not dare to express their anger.
Li Tai had a calm face and said nothing.
"Zhao Song immediately sent an order to Sun Wuji and Liu Dewei, and ordered the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Dali Temple to immediately send officials to Xinfeng County to thoroughly investigate the matter of grain merchants driving up grain prices. If there is no collusion between officials and businessmen, then so be it. If there is, No one can be spared! No matter who is involved behind the scenes, I will find out all of them and punish them severely!"
There was silence in the hall for a moment, and Li Er said with a gloomy face.
"Old slave obeys the order!"
Zhao Song cupped his hands and prepared to leave.
"Wait!"
But Li Er interrupted: "Passenger Fang Xuanling is sent to Zhongshu Province to send another official document to the prefectures and counties in Guanzhong, strictly ordering the counties to stabilize grain prices. If grain prices soar, grain merchants, local county officials, and county magistrates As well as the governor of the state, all of them must be severely punished and will not be tolerated~!"
"Here~!"
Zhao Song bowed and agreed. Seeing that Li Er had no other instructions, he cupped his hands and exited the hall.
Li Er then turned his attention to Li Tai. After thinking about it, he said: "Qingque, Yanhuang Academy's second and third trump card projects should be strictly confidential, right?"
Li Tai's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly had a bad premonition. He cupped his hands and said, "Father, the reason why the mountain chief wants us to keep it secret is entirely to prevent the core technology of the academy from being used by those who have ill intentions towards us, Datang." "Peeping and stealing"
"Hmph! I didn't say what he did was wrong! But if you are wary of outsiders, why don't you also have to be wary of me~?"
Li Er's eyes turned cold, and he directly interrupted Li Tai and said: "If I hadn't pressed you so hard today, I'm afraid I still wouldn't know about your second and third killer projects. Li Zexuan is of course working for Datang." We consider interests, but don’t forget, I am the master of this country~!”
As human beings, they don’t like the feeling of being concealed, because it makes them feel that things are beyond their control. Although Li Er is a wise ruler, he is no exception in this regard!
Even though it was midsummer, Li Tai felt a bit of coolness in the Manna Palace. At this time, he remembered that his father was never a merciful and moderate king, but a man who could conquer the world and kill his brothers. The man who kills his father decisively!
"Father! I'm scared! I never thought of hiding this matter from you. It's just that the affairs of the academy are really busy recently, and I have no time to worry about it. I didn't mean to deceive my father!
I believe the same is true for the mountain chief. The locust plague broke out in the Guanzhong area recently. The mountain chief was busy with disaster relief, so he did not report this to your father~! Moreover, I heard from the mountain chief that he has already mentioned to you the matter of my father's improvement of the telegraph machine before, so I am not in a hurry to report it to you this time! Please don’t hold a grudge against the mountain leader because of this! "
The little fat man's thoughts changed quickly and he quickly explained.
He knew that if he didn't explain the matter clearly to Li Er today, not only would he be unlucky, Li Zexuan might also be unlucky. Since ancient times, when there was a grudge between monarchs and ministers, it was usually the ministers who were unlucky!
Hearing this, Li Er's face turned pale. After a long silence, he finally said: "Li Zexuan did mention it to me before about improving the telegraph machine. I asked him to do it. I will give him the manpower and material resources needed. This time I happen to catch up with the outbreak of a large locust plague in the Guanzhong area. I can’t blame you! That’s all! That’s all! I’m not a narrow-minded person, so I won’t blame you for this! But if something similar happens next time, don’t lie to your father. The emperor!"
Li Tai breathed a big sigh of relief. Just when Li Er was silent, he was already prepared to be punished. At this moment, his hanging heart finally dropped, "Thank you, Father! Father!" The emperor has a broad mind and appoints talented people, and he will definitely become a benevolent emperor that surpasses Emperor Qin and Emperor Han Wu!"
Li Er looked at Li Tai with a half-smile but not a smile, and said: "Ha! Qingque, are you flattering your father now? But my father didn't notice that you are so protective of Li Zexuan now?"
Of course what he was talking about was when he was furious just now, Li Tai interceded for Li Zexuan!
Li Tai was startled. Once upon a time, he and Li Zexuan were sworn enemies, and he was always looking for trouble with Li Zexuan. But now, not only has he become Li Zexuan's student, but he is also willing to risk being punished by his father to help Li Zexuan. Please forgive me, why did things become like this?
Scenes from the past kept flashing through Li Tai's mind. For a long time, Li Tai raised his hands to Li Er seriously and said:
"Father! The mountain leader is not only knowledgeable, but he is also a person worthy of respect! I think the Tang Dynasty needs people like the mountain leader!"
Seeing his beloved son praising another person in front of him, Li Er was still a little bit annoyed, but he was too embarrassed to show it due to his face. Moreover, what Li Tai said was generally not good enough. Wrong, so he waved his hand and said with some disinterest:
"Qingque, you have grown up! Go and say hello to your mother, and then you can do what you want to do~!"
"Yes! Father!"
Li Tai cupped his hands and was about to leave when he suddenly looked back and said, "Father, I am not with you anymore, so please take care of your dragon body~!"
Li Er felt warm in his heart and said with a smile: "Father, I know! Go! Go!"
Li Tai nodded, then turned and left
The next day.
The headline of "Datang Daily" prominently published the news "Who is to blame for soaring food prices?" Zhongshu Province issued 108 official documents, strictly ordering the affected counties to stabilize food prices! 》
The first part of this news is about Zhang Xiongfei in Xinfeng County who is hoarding food and driving up food prices. And just yesterday evening, Zhang Xiongfei was detained by the Xinfeng County government. Li Er personally ordered him to be executed in three days!
You must know that since the Wuhu rebellion in China, the population of the Central Plains has dropped sharply. After the war in the late Sui Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty has been pursuing a policy of recuperation and recuperation since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Under this situation, local governments rarely sentenced prisoners to death, even if Even if the prisoner is sentenced to death, it must be reported to all levels, and the death penalty can only be executed with the emperor's personal approval!
Even during the Zhenguan Dynasty, even Li Er had to obtain the consent of the courtiers to determine a person's death penalty.
According to historical records, when Taizong first came to the throne, he discussed with his ministers how to "make the law fair". According to the king's suggestion, people who were "just, good, and capable of breaking the law" were appointed as "judges". After Zhang Yungu was killed, Taizong immediately remembered that this young judge was the loyal executor of his "cautious punishment" policy and was committed to reversing the abusive punishment trend of the previous generation. He plays chess with prisoners in custody and absolves mentally ill patients of their crimes, all of which are implementing the "cautious punishment" policy. It is really sad that he had no chance to defend himself when he was killed.
So Taizong issued an order: From now on, whenever the death penalty is imposed, even if the emperor orders immediate execution, the execution must be carried out three times. Soon he ordered that the three memorials should be increased to five in Beijing, three memorials outside, and one memorial for those who were rebellious and the slaves killed their masters. Among them, the five-repeated play refers to one replay two days before the due date, one replay the day before the due date, and three replays on the final day. No meat or wine is allowed on the day of execution, and entertainment activities are stopped. Cases in Menxia Province that are “justifiable by law but excusable by circumstances” should be filed in a timely manner.
Such a complex death penalty review system resulted in a significant reduction in the number of criminals sentenced to death during the Zhenguan Dynasty. According to historical records, in the third year of Zhenguan, there were only 29 prisoners sentenced to death nationwide. Of course, this was Li Er's attempt to preserve the limited number of prisoners in the country. What a helpless move made by the labor force!
However, the social order and social atmosphere of the Zhenguan Dynasty did not become chaotic because of this. On the contrary, the social order of the Zhenguan Dynasty was unbelievably good. "As far as the sea from the east, the five mountains in Antarctica are open to the outside world. When traveling, you don't need food, but you get it from the roads!"
This time, Li Er sentenced Zhang Xiongfei to death directly, more in the nature of killing chickens to scare monkeys. He wanted to make other prefectures and counties in the Guanzhong region look at it. He wanted grain merchants everywhere to think of Zhang Xiongfei's fate before driving up grain prices. !
"The price of grain in Xinfeng County has risen to five cents per stone a few days ago? These grain merchants are really unscrupulous!"
"No! This Zhang Xiongfei kills well!"
"That's right! We should kill the chicken to scare the monkeys! How dare those profiteers dare to take advantage of the locust plague to drive up food prices?"
When the people near Chang'an City saw the headlines in the "Datang Daily" for the first time, they applauded and cheered for Zhang Xiongfei's tragic ending! Living under the emperor's feet, they are lucky, because during this period of time, the price of food in Chang'an City has not fluctuated much. The food in major food stores is still sold at the original price. The people can buy as much as they want. It’s no different than before!
"It's better here in Chang'an City. Food prices haven't skyrocketed!"
"I would say this should be the result of Marquis Yong'an!"
"Oh? Why do you see it?"
"Yong'an Hou led the Tianji Brigade to quickly eliminate the locusts in Lantian County. This greatly stabilized people's hearts! Besides, the Yanhuang Chamber of Commerce also has some grain stores in Chang'an City. They have sufficient food there. With them here, other How dare your grain merchants raise prices?"
"Yeah! There is some truth in that!"
"Hey, look! Mr. Hou's Tianji Brigade wiped out locusts in Xinfeng County and Weinan County in one day yesterday!"
"What? Isn't this too fast~?"
"It's true! It's true! Moreover, the Marquis also issued a notice to borrow the chickens raised by various households from the people in the affected counties. After the locust plague is eliminated, they will be returned in full. If any are lost, double compensation will be paid! Now it's day The chicken brigade already has 350,000 chickens~!"
"The Marquis wants to borrow the chickens raised by the common people? Great! I still have thirty chickens at home. I wonder where the Marquis is now? It's not too late to send them over!"
"I don't know! I think this notice from Lord Marquis should be for those states and counties waiting for disaster relief, right? When the Tianji Brigade arrives, they will directly send their own chickens there!"
"Eh? It's really possible! By the way! My brother-in-law is providing disaster relief to Xianyang County. The Marquis will definitely pass through Xianyang in the past few days. I have to ask someone to bring a message there. I must send all the chickens in the house to the Marquis. ! This is a matter of immeasurable merit! Even if I lose a few chickens, I don’t have to ask the Marquis to compensate!"
"That's right! That's right! Lord Hou is running around with the children in Lantian County for the sake of the people affected by the disaster in Guanzhong. There is no reason for us to stand by and watch! If we can contribute, we will feel at ease~!"
"Yes! I also have relatives in Xianyang County. I have to ask them to prepare chickens and wait for the Marquis to come and lend them to the Marquis!"
After the common people saw Li Zexuan's "Chicken Recruitment Notice" published in "Datang Daily", they were all very enthusiastic and wanted to send all the chickens at home to the Tianji Brigade. However, the common people here in Chang'an City did not. Knowing where Li Zexuan's Tianji Brigade was now, it was obviously unrealistic to send chickens there, so those quick-thinking people thought of asking their relatives living in other disaster-stricken counties to be ready to send their own chickens. To the Tianji Brigade!
In fact, these warm-hearted people in the capital don't have to do this at all, because the spread of "Datang Daily" is far faster than the speed of their messages!
It has been more than a year since Li Zexuan founded "Datang Daily" at the beginning of last year. The editorial department of "Datang Daily" has not only established offices in various states and counties, but also established a complete "communication network". Before dawn in the morning, more than a dozen fast horses rushed out of Lantian County with the latest issue of "Datang Daily". At this time, the more than 20 counties surrounding Chang'an City basically followed the same trend as Chang'an City. Like the common people, they saw the latest issue of the newspaper!
As for states and counties further away, it will only take a few days to receive today's newspapers!
Therefore, in the counties around Chang'an City, people are already gathering outside the county offices asking when the Tianji Brigade will come to their county. They have already prepared chickens!
But how could the county magistrates in various places know when Li Zexuan would go to their county?
But they cannot ignore the fierce public opinion, especially under the current background of the imperial court ordering states and counties to seize the time and actively provide disaster relief. It is even more impossible for them to ignore public opinion. Xinfeng County is a living example. The county magistrate was demoted and the county magistrate was demoted. Directly dismissed from office!
Therefore, in the face of fierce public opinion, the county magistrates quickly sent their officials to the prefecture and county where Li Zexuan was located to inquire about Li Zexuan's "march route." There were also some far-sighted county magistrates who sent people to inquire about the route while helping the people register. How many chickens are you willing to lend out, and ask the people to mark the legs of their own chickens in advance, and then drive them to the county government office for safekeeping by the government officials. When the Tianji Brigade arrives, they will be delivered directly to Li Zexuan!
As a result, the backyards of county government offices in many counties have become bustling chicken farms, and the county magistrates, county magistrates, and government officials have become breeders!
